Thursday, October 1, 2026
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream has received the highest safety grade from a hospital watchdog group for fall 2025, placing it among 15 hospitals in the Northwell Health system to earn this distinction.
The nationally recognized Leapfrog Group, which evaluates hospitals on their ability to prevent medical errors, injuries, infections and accidents, stamped LIJ Valley Stream with an ‘A’ rating, reflecting its commitment to patient safety and quality care.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a benchmark focused on hospital safety, assessing more than 3,000 acute-care hospitals across the country twice a year.
LIJ Valley Stream’s top grade acknowledged the hospital’s ongoing efforts to protect patients from preventable harm by implementing evidence-based protocols, maintaining infection control and fostering a culture centered on patient safety. The hospital previously had received B grades but has steadily improved key safety measures to reach the highest level.
The Leapfrog Group’s evaluation includes a review of data from sources such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with a focus on staffing levels, hand hygiene compliance, infection prevention, medication safety and responsiveness to critical events. The hospital’s success stems from a collaborative approach involving clinical and non-clinical departments, with a focus on transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
Contributing largely to the top grade was the hospital’s success in reducing infections and improving hand hygiene compliance, which involves not only clinical staff but also environmental services and front line workers.
The hospital has adopted “quest for zero” infection rounds, safety culture huddles and root cause analyses when adverse events occur, fostering open communication and empowering staff to identify and address safety concerns promptly.
“The people who come here love to come to work, and they feel comfortable bringing anything to either their leader or to each other to ensure that we keep patients safe,” Johane Charleron, the hospital’s senior director of quality management, said. “One of the things that we do on an ongoing basis is continuing to evaluate our safety culture. So, I think, that also can translate to how we take care of our patients.”
In addition to infection control, other factors playing a role in the hospital’s upward safety trajectory included improvements in patient experience and fall prevention protocols. Coordinated efforts between clinical teams, patient-family experience groups and leadership have ensured that safety is embedded in everyday operations, from bedside care to hospital-wide policies.
Dr. Angel Meng, the hospital’s medical director, highlighted the role frontline physicians and nurses play in reducing preventable harm. The hospital’s leadership sets safety priorities while also seeking input from staff on the ground to identify challenges and resource needs. This creates a psychologically safe environment where all team members, from physicians and nurses to food and nutrition staff, can contribute to enhancing patient care.
“It’s really a testament to us that we are continuously implementing evidence-based protocols and practices to really deliver to our patients, and really a patient-centered care that we’re focusing on because, as time evolves, I think the clinical team also has to evolve to make sure we deliver the highest quality,” Meng said. “It’s really a commitment and a testament to the heart of our hospital, that we’re delivering the highest level of care to our patients.”
The hospital has updated its policies to ensure clinicians are present at the bedside during critical events such as code grays, enhancing responsiveness. LIJ Valley Stream also utilizes screening tools for fall prevention and is exploring telemonitoring technology to support safety and workforce challenges.
Despite earning an A rating, hospital leadership recognized that there’s room for improvement. Upcoming initiatives include the implementation of a new electronic medical record system aimed at improving communication and coordination of care, further strengthening safety protocols.
LIJ Valley Stream’s safety success also reflects its connection to the community. Meng noted that many staff members live in Valley Stream and understand the cultural and ethnic diversity of the patient population, which helps tailor care to meet community needs.
“I think our staff here are actually from our community,” Meng said. “I cannot speak for other hospitals, but I can be very confident that our staff, whether it’s nursing, with a physician, every team, are actually part of this community. So we know what our community, what our patient needs in our community.”
For residents, the Leapfrog rating serves as a reassurance that their local hospital prioritizes safety and quality at every level. The rating also enhances the hospital’s reputation and builds long-term trust with patients and families who seek reliable, high-quality care close to home.
